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Gay marriage advocates gain corporate support

Corporations are wading into the once-risky business of supporting gay marriage. | AP Photos

NOM launched a “Dump Starbucks” campaign this year, challenging the coffee company’s vocal support for gay marriage. It is also proposing a Bank of America shareholder resolution aimed at enshrining freedom of speech for employees who support or oppose gay marriage.

In North Carolina, all of the Fortune 500 companies in the state — including Bank of America and Duke Energy — stayed on the sidelines during last month’s referendum to enact a same-sex marriage ban, The New York Times reported. The referendum passed by a double-digit margin, raising questions about whether the issue is still too hot for many corporations to handle.

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Jeremy Kennedy, campaign manager for the anti-referendum organization Protect all North Carolina Families, said corporations in the state split the difference by pressuring lawmakers to include language in the amendment allowing companies to offer domestic-partner benefits to their employees. But they sat out when it went to the voters.

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers did make a forceful personal statement against the amendment, but his company declined to take an official position. “There was real hesitancy on the part of corporations to stick their neck out officially as a company,” Kennedy said.

Many had read the tea leaves — and the polling data — that clearly showed the amendment was likely to pass by a wide margin in the heavily evangelical Christian state.

“I don’t know that a Bank of America or Duke Energy would have made that big of a difference on these issues,” Kennedy said. “People were looking to their pastors, their Bible and their faith on this issue.”

Large corporations have also been slow to issue full-throated statements opposing a Minnesota constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, which is on the ballot in November, but there are signs the support may eventually come.

A small group of Minnesota-based business executives, including Marilyn Carlson Nelson, CEO of Carlson Companies which owns T.G.I. Friday’s and Country Inns & Suites, and Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic, have penned editorials opposing the constitutional amendment.

And Target, which faced intense backlash in 2010 for donating to a Minnesota group that supported an anti-gay candidate, appears to have made an about-face.

Target is holding a “Wear It With Pride” T-shirt promotion that would benefit groups opposing the constitutional amendment. In a statement, Target cited the company’s “long history of supporting the LGBT community through giving, volunteerism and event sponsorship and participation” and encouraged its employees to “exercise their right to vote” in November’s referendum.

Even if companies aren’t supporting gay marriage efforts, what’s important is they’re not fighting them, said Marc Solomon, national campaign director of Freedom to Marry.

“I don’t think you see any corporations taking stances against equality,” he said. “You’re either taking a stance in favor of equality or you don’t take a stance at all. We’ve certainly defeated our opponents with respect to getting corporations to take an anti-gay stance.”

Readers' Comments (57)

I would prefer the support from the federal court system over a greedy corporation. If you think they give a damn about the rights of gays over their profits, you're really green. The power is in the federal judiciary. Not corporate AmeriKa. They're greedy lunatics, and have purchased the entire Republican party.

It will be funny to see how religious conservatives spin this. Free markets and capitalism is next to godliness, except when they contradict their faith. True free market capitalism is completely 100% amoral. (capitalists also don't necessarily care if the market is actually free, only that they make the most money.) Its like assigning good or bad actions to a hammer head shark. All it cares about is food, procreation, and territory.

Jonathan Baker, director of the Corporate Fairness Project for the NOM, said “Our goal is not to have Target supporting traditional marriage. Our goal is to have Target stay neutral.”

Staying neutral isn't neutral at all. It means they want Target (and other companies) to pretend that gay people don't exist, and that they aren't as valued as straight people in society. This is not true, and it's not acceptable. This is NOM's fraudulent propaganda: That if you support equality for gay citizens, that somehow that means that you don't support straight people and their so-called "traditional" marriages. This is the lie they are promoting. Starbucks never said that they were against opposite-sex marriages, their families or straight people. They simply said that ALL American citizens deserved the right to marry the person of their choice. Obviously that includes straight citizens as well.

VHarkonnen is absolutely right. Companies are amoral, care only about profits, and, thus, go in any political direction they feel will favor them, whether they're view is harmful for society or not. In this case, their support for gay "marriage" is most definitely harmful. The reasons have to do with the origin of homosexuality and it’s consequences, which legally recognizing gay marriage will only worsen, instead of mitigate.

Origins of Homosexuality

From the American Psychological Association:

“Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.”

For men, the origin of same-sex behavior was approximately 34 - 39% genetic and 61 – 66% unique environmental, which is thought to consist of hormonal influences occurring before birth and social factors occurring after it. Shared environment reportedly had no role in causing same-sex behavior among men. For women, the origin of same-sex behavior was 18 - 19% genetic, 16 – 17% shared environment, and 64 – 69% unique environment. However, according to the authors, these percentages were to be interpreted with caution because they varied widely among all three parameters for both sexes.

Clearly, based on these reputable references, homosexuality is partially due to social influences. Gay marriage is a social influence. It is so because the status of marriage in our society. Because we legally recognize it and encourage people to marry by offering them tax incentives, we’re saying that marriage is a commitment that’s to be emulated. For heterosexuals, this is true. For homosexuals, it’s not for the reasons summarized later in this post.

Consequences of Legally Recognizing Gay Marriage

Nonetheless, if such a view becomes more widespread and gay marriage is legally recognized in most, if not all states, it will spawn other social influences, some of which are already in place. Some TV shows, such as “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Will and Grace,” or “Glee” favorably depict homosexuality, while studiously ignoring the serious health issues common to the behavior. News media both online and off has posted pictures of Cynthia Nixon’s “wedding” to her “partner.” Netflix has sunk to including gay films in its online menu, where children can access them. Marvel has begun portraying some comic book heroes as gay, even though they were never gay to begin with. Finally, and most egregiously, school curricula involving homosexuality is required in States, where the government has laws falsely equating homosexual behavior with heterosexual behavior.

If such a trend continues without the public stopping it, depictions of homosexual behavior will become even more commonplace in TV, newspapers, and magazines, including those lining the checkout stand at the grocery store. Taken together, these factors will exert even more force than now on the social cause of homosexuality. The result will be more homosexuality than now, especially among those whose genetics and biology makes them prone to developing this behavioral urge and among women, whose sexuality is more fluid than men’s.

This will be a very negative outcome for the reason alluded to earlier in this post. Same-sex behavior is unhealthy, especially for men but also for women. The diseases to which male homosexuals are susceptible are HIV/AIDS (to which they’re up to 44 more susceptible than straight males), Kaposi’s Sarcoma, human papilloma virus, hepatitis A and B, anal cancer, non-hodgkins lymphoma, hodgkins disease, gonorrhea, syphilis, proctitis, proctocolitis, and enteritis. For women, the diseases include breast cancer, ovarian cancer, HPV, BV, chlamydia, syphillis, trichomoniasis. In comparison to single straight women, who are sexually active, lesbians are equally susceptible to HPV and more susceptible to BV. For both sexes, mental and emotional maladies are more prevalent even in the Netherlands, which is highly accepting of homosexuality and considers it on par with heterosexuality.

For all these reasons, it’s important to vote against legally recognizing gay marriage. Doing otherwise, will only add another social problem to the many we already have and another factor that we need to parent our children against.

For a more detailed discussion on the consequences of legally recognizing gay marriage and the peer-reviewed references upon which they’re based, please see the essay entitled, "The Case for Government Recognition of Traditional Relationships" at

Companies are amoral, care only about profits, and, thus, go in any political direction they feel will favor them, whether they're view is harmful for society or not. In this case, their support for gay "marriage" is most definitely harmful.

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How very communist of you.

Anyways, extending marriage rights to gay couples is not only good for corporations, but good for small businesses was well, and good for the economy as a whole.

Any of us should understand what the abortion of a country the Soviet union was. They hated everyone who wasnt a commie in good standing

If your Jewish (my wife is) well while Israel is a very tolerant country, the ultra orthodox are utter extremists

BAdk in Jan 2009 a couple ultra orthos in the Knesset said gays "were like bird flu" Essentially calling for the extermination of the people who shared Hitlers ovens with theire own close relatives

Attitudes like that resulted in an ortho going into the LGBT center in Tel Aviv and killing two and seriously wounding about a dozen more women.. BTW the orthos are as nuts as the Islamics in Iran , and also treat their women like trash, not quite as bad as Islam

semyon_suslov, your response is grossly wrong, and the weaknesses are found right within it. First of all, you cite: :For men, the origin of same-sex behavior was approximately 34 - 39% genetic and 61 – 66% unique environmental, which is thought to consist of hormonal influences occurring before birth and social factors occurring after it." Bam, right there you immediately assume it is based on some kind of warped "social construct", while in fact, your cited data says otherwise! It directly indicates that nearly 40% of gay men are genetic (as in, they have no choice in the matter, contrary to your supposed belief), and then the remaining 60% or so are at least partially influenced by hormones in the mothers womb (also beyond any man's choice). I have a heckuva lot more personal experience on this matter, and I can assure you, there is no choice involved in sexuality. It is assigned to you, and you will never get to choose. Secondly, I caught this little line: "Some TV shows, such as “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Will and Grace,” or “Glee” favorably depict homosexuality, while studiously ignoring the serious health issues common to the behavior" There are no "health issues" with being gay. I assume you mean AIDS here, as that's what so many brainwashed conservatives think. In this modern day and age, gays have become so health conscious in regards to AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases that their infection rate is LOWER than in the straight community. Imagine that! Again, these "health issues" are common to all people of all sexualities having any kind of sex. They are transmitted by fools engaging in copious unsafe sex, and frankly, they should know better. The overwhelming majority of gays do not sleep around, and even more importantly make sure to have safe sex. In fact, you are at just as much risk as I am (assuming you don't sleep around either). The repercussions of gay marriage will be exactly nothing. Gay people will continue to be gay. Straight people will continue to be straight. The only difference is that gay people who love each other so much that they want to make a lifelong, legally binding commitment will be able to do so.

Why are we allowing this vocal group to continue to grow and take over our society, when they continue to claim that their lifestyle will not spread and will have no effect on society as a whole? Although I love all people and try to treat them all equally, this group is doing all it can to destroy the traditions of marriage for reasons that are not valid or sound: http://kellywsmith.com/gay-mar...

Please do all you can to prevent the installment of laws that allow "gay marriage."

I don't really have a strong opinion on it, but one thing is clear. Whether its this year, this decade, or next, gay marriage will be legalized at some point, its inevitable. In the future, we'll look back on this period of time the same way we now look back on the racial equality battles of the 50's and 60's.

I agree it will be interesting to hear how the political right manage their two buddies, religion and corporations, when they now appear to be at odds on this subject.

If you look back on our history we are no longer number 1 in the world and our actions as a nation are beginning to pay the price for our choices, examples over spending, our laws etc. America has one foot in the grave now. Might as well finish America off with same sex marriage, even though 30 States have put into their constitution amendments against same sex marriage. Same sex marriage will open the door to devastation in America.

Humans through out history have made bad choice's and the price always has to be paid. Empires come and Empires go and all I see happening is America's time is near. America has fallen from grace.

What people do in their bedroom is their right, but when they bring it to the public, it begins to effect the the entire nation. The Roman Empire was openly ho mo sexual, the Roman Empire is gone now and nothing but a foot note in History. Morals is part of the fabric that keeps a nation together, and as we all know now we are a nation that doesn't stand together, but we will all fall together. A small percentage of Americans are ho mo sexual, the sins of America are about to come to full payment. Many will disagree with me and others that understand we are about to pay the price for our immorality as a nation.

Once we cross that line, it's over and time to pay the bill will be at hand. We no longer have the fabric to hold this nation together! The unraveling of our fabric has begun.

when NOM announced its boycott of starbucks i went n picked up all the packages of VIA coffee they had.. more than $150s worth. i make sure i stop by everyday in the afternoon and pick up a blended drink on my way home and over tip the barrista. and i tell them EVERYTIME that I'm there because they support marriage equality. My wife does the same. my brother and his friends deserve the same rights as my wife and i have.

NOMs boycott is pretty much a joke. starbucks stock price has gone up. the list of companies they boycott will grow n grow. its will be a beautiful day when the NOM website and its dozen or so posters are gone.

Another fallacy by liberals. No one can expect me to believe that DOMA is hurting businesses. Quite the contrary. I am sure that most people do not want to shop or frequent a business where homosexuals are the majority anymore that we like being served by those who are covered with tatoos or those with pierced tongues.